US researchers grow graphene on silver

Researchers from the US Northwestern University and Argonne National Laboratory have recently proved that graphene — the one-atom-thick carbon layer with extraordinary conductivity and strength— can be grown on a single-crystal silver substrate.

The finding, say the experts, could result in exceptionally pristine samples, which are ideal to produce ultrafast electronics and advanced optics. Last year, for instance, researchers from the Centre for Graphene Science added a one-atom thick layer of graphene to internet switches, noticing they became 100-times faster. But until now, the known methods for growing graphene on metals turned out to be unsuccessful, particularly with silver.